Audi set on winning at the Norisring

From the second-longest to the shortest circuit on the calendar: Following the round in Hungary, the DTM, on racing in the heart of Nuremberg, is returning to Germany. The Audi locations Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm are only 80 and 140 kilometers away from the circuit, which makes the only city street race in the series a double home round for the Audi squad. As in the past years, far more than 100,000 spectators are expected to turn out on the weekend.

The characteristics of the Norisring are unique in the world of race tracks. Two long straights, two hairpin turns, a chicane – all on a distance of 2,300 meters, surrounded by concrete walls and high grandstands made of stone. The circuit consists of streets normally used by public traffic and the surface alternates between tarmac and concrete. Time gaps of a few thousandths of a second in qualifying are equally typical for the Norisring as numerous overtaking maneuvers. The Drag Reduction System (DRS), with which the rear wing angle can be flattened by pushing a button on the steering wheel, assists the drivers in front of the Grundig turn at the end of the start-finish straight or when braking in front of the Dutzenteich turn.

The last Audi victory in Nuremberg dates back twelve years. In 2002, Laurent Aiello in a privately fielded Abt Audi TT-R won the race after a gripping duel with Bernd Schneider. Since last year, Audi has had Jamie Green in its line-up, the ‘King of the Norisring,’ who decided the race in his favor four times before switching to Audi.

In 2013, the barren spell seemed to be over for Audi when Mattias Ekström, after 83 laps, was the first to cross the finish line, cheered by the crowd of Audi fans. However, after the race, the stewards of the meeting accused the Swede of a breach of parc fermé rules and, as a result, excluded him from the classification. Although he had clinched his victory in a fair, sporting manner, the two-time Champion was deprived of the trophy and the race had no winner – a unique occurrence in DTM history to date.

‘Das Erste’ will start to air live coverage from Nuremberg on Saturday (14.35 CEST) and Sunday (13.15 CEST). Tickets for the entire 2014 DTM season can be purchased online at www.audi-motorsport.com/dtm or telephonically on +49 841 89-47777.

Quotes by the officials

Dieter Gass (Head of DTM): “Our expectations of our home round are high. Clearly, our aim is to clinch our first victory of the season. Last year, we lost the victory we’d achieved in a sporting manner after crossing the finish line. This occupied us for a long time and gives us even greater motivation to take the momentum from the first three races to this event and to celebrate our first major success this season.”

Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): “The Norisring is a special event every year for Audi and for our team. Following the good weekend at Budapest, we’re set on battling for victory and are looking forward to the tremendous support by the large crowd of fans.”

Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): “The Norisring is the pinnacle of the season. As a team, we only scored one point at Budapest. Our two drivers and the whole squad would like to show that they can clearly do better.”

Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): “Following a few days of vacation, our team is traveling to Nuremberg with recharged batteries. Our joint aim can be put in a nutshell: we want to crown the King of the Norisring again.”

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers

Mattias Ekström (35/S), Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM #7 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
•  Was the sporting winner of the 2013 race at the Norisring
•  Was stripped of his victory due to a breach of parc fermé rules
“As always, the race at the Norisring is one of the most exciting weekends of the year. In 2013, I already held the trophy in my hands – this time, I’d also like to take it home at night.”

Jamie Green (32/GB), Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM #21 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)
•  Has won the race at Nuremberg an amazing four times
•  Scored his first points in the 2014 season at Budapest
“Despite my four victories my debut with Audi at the Norisring last year was not exactly successful. But I’ve chalked this up to experience and am only looking ahead now. My car and I are perfectly prepared for doing a better job this year.”

Miguel Molina (25/E), Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM #8 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
•  As the runner-up at Budapest, scored the best result in his DTM career
•  Made the quickest pit stop of all Audi drivers in Hungary
“This is an important race for us. I wasn’t particularly successful there in the past but now I’ve got the perfect teacher in my team-mate Mattias Ekström – he’s always extremely fast there. I’m going to follow his pointers, and try to up the ante after the success at Budapest.”

Edoardo Mortara (27/I), Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM #15 (Audi Sport Team Abt)
•  Was leading the race at the Norisring for a long time last year
•  In third place of the standings, is the second-best Audi driver
“I remember last year well when we saw a very thrilling race at the Norisring. Unfortunately, Mattias Ekström was subsequently deprived of his well-deserved victory. We’re going to do everything we can to give the Audi fans a reason to cheer again at the Norisring after so many years.”

Nico Müller (22/CH), Audi Financial Services Audi RS 5 DTM #22 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)
•  Drove the fastest race lap at Budapest
•  Has received new graphics for his Audi RS 5 DTM with white as the base color
“The Norisring is a new track for me, so it won’t be so easy for me. But I’m very much looking forward to it. Everybody enthuses about the unique atmosphere there. I’ll try and continue the trend from Budapest to clinch the points I missed there in Nuremberg.”

Mike Rockenfeller (30/D), Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM #1 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
•  In second place of the overall standings, is the best Audi driver
•  Is one of two drivers in the field to have scored points in all three races
“Even though this is our home round and the season’s high point, I’ve always struggled at the Norisring more than anywhere else. Fifth place in 2013 was one of my better results. It’s important for an Audi driver to win there again – and obviously I’d like to be that driver. We’re working hard on starting the weekend with an optimum set-up.”

Timo Scheider (35/D), AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM #2 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
•  Missed the 2013 race due to a brake problem at the start
•  In 2014, is starting at the Norisring for the 14th time – the top mark in the field
“I’ve got good and bad memories of the Norisring. Being in contention there this year would be like balm for my soul, particularly with a view towards the Championship. In any event, my pace in the first three races gives me a positive feeling.”

Adrien Tambay (23/F), Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM #16 (Audi Sport Team Abt)
•  Is one of two drivers in the field to have scored points in all three races
•  In 2014, is sporting the colors of the men’s magazine Playboy on his car
“It’s always exciting to drive on a city street circuit because a track without run-off areas is a great challenge for us drivers. Obviously, as Audi drivers, we’ve got to give 110 percent in front of our own fans. I’d like to continue scoring points – and I mean as many as possible.”

The Audi drivers in the 2014 DTM

Mattias Ekström (S): * July 14, 1978 in Falun (S); residence: Salenstein (CH); single (partner Heidi), one son (Mats); one daughter (Hanna); height: 1.83 m; weight: 79 kg; Audi driver since 1999; DTM races: 137; pole positions: 19; victories: 17; fastest laps: 12; points: 703; DTM titles: 2 (2004, 2007); best result Norisring: 2

Jamie Green (GB): * June 14, 1982 in Leicester (GB); residence: Monaco (MC); married to Ginny, two sons (Zachary and William); height: 1.78 m; weight: 70 kg; Audi driver since 2013; DTM races: 96; pole positions: 7; victories: 8; fastest laps: 13; points: 402.5; DTM titles: 0; best result Norisring: 1 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2012)

Miguel Molina (E): * February 17, 1989 in Barcelona (E); residence: Lloret de Mar (E); single; height: 1.75 m; weight: 64 kg; Audi driver since 2010; DTM races: 44; pole positions: 2; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 2; points: 79; DTM titles: 0; best result Norisring: 12

Edoardo Mortara (I): * Jan 12, 1987 in Geneva (CH); residence: Geneva (CH); engaged; height: 1.82 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 33; pole positions: 1; victories: 2; fastest laps: 0; points: 133; DTM titles: 0; best result Norisring: 5

Nico Müller (CH): * Feb 25, 1992 in Thun (CH); residence: Blumenstein (CH); single (partner Lara); height: 1.85 m; weight: 73 kg; Audi driver since 2014; DTM races: 3; pole positions: 0; victories: 0; fastest laps: 1; points: 0; best result Norisring: –

Mike Rockenfeller (D): * Oct 31, 1983 in Neuwied (D); residence: Landschlacht (CH); engaged to Susanne; height: 1.75 m; weight: 68 kg; Audi driver since 2007; DTM races: 74; pole positions: 3; victories: 3; fastest laps: 3; points: 332; DTM titles: 1 (2013); best result Norisring: 5

Timo Scheider (D): * Nov 10, 1978 in Lahnstein (D); residence: Lochau (A); single (partner Jessica), one son (Loris-Romeo); height: 1.78 m; weight: 72 kg; Audi driver since 2006; DTM races: 142; pole positions: 11; victories: 6; fastest laps: 9; points: 418; DTM titles: 2 (2008, 2009); best result Norisring: 3

Adrien Tambay (F): * Feb 25, 1991 in Paris (F); residence: Lochau (A); single; height: 1.81 m; weight: 69 kg; Audi driver since 2012; DTM races: 23; pole positions: 1; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 1; points: 84; DTM titles: 0; best result Norisring: 15

DTM drivers’ standings after three of ten rounds

  1 Marco Wittmann (BMW)        50 points
  2 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi)        31 points
  3 Edoardo Mortara (Audi)        27 points
  4 Miguel Molina (Audi)        26 points
  5 Adrien Tambay (Audi)        26 points
  6 Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz)      25 points
  7 Bruno Spengler (BMW)        23 points
  8 Mattias Ekström (Audi)        20 points
  9 Augusto Farfus (BMW)        14 points
10 Paul Di Resta (Mercedes-Benz)      12 points
11 Timo Glock (BMW)          10 points
12 Maxime Martin (BMW)        8 points
13 Martin Tomczyk (BMW)        8 points
14 Timo Scheider (Audi)        8 points
15 Jamie Green (Audi)        6 points
16 António Félix da Costa (BMW)      4 points
17 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)      4 points
18 Joey Hand (BMW)          1 point

DTM manufacturers’ standings
  1 Audi            144 points
  2 BMW            118 points
  3 Mercedes-Benz          41 points

DTM teams’ standings

  1 BMW Team RMG          58 points
  2 Audi Sport Team Abt        53 points
  3 Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline      46 points
  4 Audi Sport Team Phoenix        39 points
  5 Original-Teile Mercedes AMG      37 points
  6 BMW Team Schnitzer        31 points
  7 BMW Team RBM          15 points
  8 BMW Team MTEK          14 points
  9 Audi Sport Team Rosberg        6 points
10 EURONICS/FREE MAN’S WORLD Mercedes AMG  4 points

Audi statistics in the DTM (since 1990)

Champion’s titles: 9 (in 16 years)
Victories: 65 (in 211 races)
Pole positions: 72 (in 175 qualifying sessions)
Fastest laps: 58 (in 211 races)Podium positions: 213 (in 211 races)

All Norisring winners since 2000

2000 Joachim Winkelhock (Opel), Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz)
2001 Uwe Alzen (Mercedes-Benz)
2002 Laurent Aiello (Abt-Audi)
2003 Christijan Albers (Mercedes-Benz)
2004 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)
2005 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)
2006 Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz)
2007 Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz)
2008 Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz)
2009 Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz)
2010 Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz)
2011 Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz)
2012 Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz)
2013 no winner

2013 flashback: home round with repercussions

In addition to Mattias Ekström, Edoardo Mortara in particular showed a superb performance in 2013 and was on course for a podium finish for a long time. The Italian switched to option tires on lap five and, following two early safety car periods, was running at the front of the field from lap 14 on before yielding to Ekström. After the second pit stop, he was back on track right behind Gary Paffett. The battle for second place saw two collisions between Mortara and Paffett. The second crash took both opponents out of the race shortly before the finish and prevented a possible Audi one-two victory. Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller, on making an impressive recovery that saw him advance to fifth place, took the sole lead of the overall standings.

Track info

Track length: 2.300 km
Race distance: 83 laps = 190.900 km
Pit stop window: lap 28 to lap 55
DTM qualifying record on this track: Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz), June 28, 2008, 47.785s (173.276 km/h)
DTM race record on this track: Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz), June 29, 2008, 48.446s (170.912 km/h)
Pole position 2013: Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz), 48.384s
Fastest lap 2013: Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz), 48.572s
Turnout 2013: 126,000
TV live rating 2013: 1.08 million/9.4 % market share (14+, source: ARD)

Jamie Green about the Norisring: “With respect to thrilling racing and gripping overtaking maneuvers the Norisring is the best race track of all. That was the case in the days before DRS and now is even more so. Obviously, I’ve got fond memories of the Norisring due to my victories there although it’s actually not a track that’s particularly enjoyable from a driving perspective. This track is primarily about braking, slow turns and driving with little downforce, in a way we normally don’t drive in the DTM. Because the Norisring has only straights and extremely slow turns you can get closer to the car in front. As a result, the duels are fiercer and more thrilling than on any other DTM race track. And the atmosphere with the many fans gives you goose bumps – especially, of course, as an Audi driver.”

Timetable (CEST)

Friday, June 27
16.45 – 17.20  Roll-out

Saturday, June 28
08.30 – 09.30  Free practice
11.30 – 12.30  Free practice
14.50 – 15.40  Qualifying

Sunday, June 29
09.00 – 09.40  Pit stop practice
13.30    Race

TV schedule (‘Das Erste’ live)

Saturday, June 28
14.35    Qualifying

Sunday, June 29
13.15    Race

– End –